Semiautomatic filler



Oct. 12 1926.

o. H. HANSEN SEMIAUTOMTIC FILLER Filed March 5, 2 sheets-sheer 1 Oct. 12 1926. `1,602,668

' o. H. HANSEN SEMIAUTOMATIC FILLER '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Mach 5; 1923 Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES osWALD H. HANSEN, or Pom` WASHINGTON. WISCONSIN. AssIGNon To HANSEN cAN- `PATizN'r OFFICE.

NING MACHINERY CORPORATION, F PORT WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN, COR- PORATION 0F WISCONSIN. I

SEMIAUTOMATIC FILLER.

Application led March 5, 192'3. Serial No. 622,782.

and which will enhance to a maximum the efficiency of operation thereof.

One of the more specific objects of the 'l5 present invention is to provide a number of improvements in the construction of can filling 'machines of the type forming the sub` ject of copending application Serial .Number 518,243, filed November 28, 1921, which application specifically claims various novel features of construction disclosed but not claimed herein.

cnt invention are as follows minimum and relatively unskilled attendance.

and effectively delivers the bulk of the material to the successive cans, but which'pro.-44

(luces final product which is superior in qualit-y to hand packed grades.

To provide can filling apparatus `whichis sanitary in every respect, in which material cannot collect or accumulate and become stagnant, and in which liquid diippings are effectively collected and disposed of'.

To provide a can filler all parts ofwhich are readily removable for inspection and To provide a relatively simple and compact senin-automatic can filling machine having `maXimum capacity and operable withy To provide a filler which automatically struction whereby the treatment of various kinds of material is facilitated and` whereby.. tlievcost of manufacture is reduced to a minimum. j

. A clear conception of severalembodiments of the present inventionland of the mode of operation of machines constructed in accordance therewith, `'may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a top view ofan improved semi! automatic can filling machine having portions thereof broken away in order to more clearly illustrate sub-structure of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of thev improved semi-automatic filler, the` portionto the left of the central aXis being a' radial section through the can supplymechanism, and the portion to the right of the central aXis be- Other more specific objects of the pres-` ing a similarsection through the material supply hopper. y

VFig. 3 is a. full top view of an improved semi-automatic can filling machine havingra modified form of material supplymeans associated therewith. s l

-Fig. 4 'is a fragmentary central'vertical section through the semi-automatic filler shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged central vertical section through the material supply means of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, looking away from the central aXis of the machine.' y v' The improved semi-automatic can filling machine comprises in general a stationary 'central top plate 2; a rotary annular perforated distributing member 8 located below and adjacent to the peripheral edge of the plat-'e 2; a. stationary central rod t supporting the top plate 2; a rotary sleeve 5 journalled upon the rod 4 and in the stationary frame 6 and rotatably supporting the member 3; a can runway 7 supported by the frame 6 below themember 8; means for urging successive` cans 19 along the can runway 7 i i mechanism for conducting the cans 19 to-and details of corr" from the'machine; mechanism for impart- 4. The central rod 4 is adjustably sup-V port-ed in the main frame. 6k being. locked` against rotation relatively to the frame 6 by means ot a. set screw 26 coactingwitha slotin the redet. An` adjusting handwhee'l 13 associatedwithscrewthreads onthe rod.`

4'Yserves to vertically adjust the rod 47 spider 24T :and` top plate-2 relatively` tothef trame 6.

Thefannular rotary distributing member 3V surrounds-.the .stationary top plate! 2 and isprmfidedr with an Y annular4 seriesoi1 down wardly directed openingslr located closely' adjacent to the periphery ot the plate 2.

The outer edge of the member 3 is prefer#V ably downwardly and inwardly inclinedand the inner edge of `the member 3 1s preferably :termed as an apron 16 adapted todirect liq-fl uid downwardly toward thecentral axis of the machine. An annular seriesl ofl can hooks 8 are located one adjacent to eachot-y the openings 15, the can hooks 8 and the member Bbeing secured to a common spider which is rigidly attachedto the upper"` eX- tremity ofthe driving sleeve 5. The sleeve 5 isirotatably. supported upon athrustbearing 25 secured to` the stationary rod 4', and is' rotatable about the rod 4 by means of -ar worm wheel 27 coacting witha worm 40'secured' to one end of thecounter-shaift lilith the elements thus arranged. it will be.

noted that as the top plate' 2-and spider 24 are vertically` adjusted,- the member 3'- and can hooks i 8 are simultaneously vertically adjusted.

The upper portion ofthe main frame 6 is provided with a curved can track orrunway 7 disposed below the pathV of `the openings 15 and of the hooks8. The inlet anfd dis-v charge ends of the runway 7 may beinclmed 1n order `to raise andlower .the cans 19 relatively to the openings 15.` Aserlesfot readily removable Y arc-.shaped can guides 23- are located above the Vrunwa 7 7andseiwe.teg`

maintain the cans 19upon therunzway' 7 and in engagement withthe can hools8'.

vided with sectional guards'20`or1ningupri ght walls .adjacent to the. periphery ot 1 the member Y By rigidlyuniting-the sectional can guides 23 an.dgu ards-20,-the guidesandl guards may be readily simultaneously 12emoved: Within. the runway 7 is .located a stationary drip catch;1 or pan lAQ/eadap'tedwto ormore ot the can guides may bepro-v catch liquid delivered downwardly through I the openings 17 and along the apron 16. The pan 12 may be provided with one or more drain openings 18 for discharging liquid to a suitable conductor. openings 17, apron 16 and drip catch pan 12 insure rapid and effective delivery ot excess liquid from the machine.V j

The machine yis supplied with empty cans 19 by means of a can guide 14 which is capable of depositing the empty cans 19 in succession upon a continuously revolving tapered feed drum 10. The revolving tapered feedv drum 10 is secured to the main driving shaft 30 which is rotatably support ed in bearings inthe main frame Gand the inner end ofwhich-isprovided with a bevel gear v29-which meshes'with abevel gear 39 secured to? the counter-shatt 28; The delivery en'dsofv the feeddrum lisqprovidet with a helical projectionl Srwhich is` capable of gently delivering thesuccessive canszin properly spaced relation against the successive advancing can hooks 8.

Thelled cans 19 are delivered 'from the machine by. means of automatic discharge mechanism 37 driven byworm gearing 38 associated with the counter-shaft 28. This discharge mechanism is oi well known con struct-ion and requires no detail description herein. The main driving shaft 30 which communicates motion through the countershaft 28 to the various movable elements ot the machine, is normally rotated automatically by means of motive power applied to the driving pulley 3l and from thence,

through a jaw clutch 32 to the shaft 30, but may be-interchangeably operated manually by means of a hand wheel llsecured to the outer extremity oi the shaft 30. The clutch 32 may be manipulated either from the feed sideofthe machine by direct movement ci thel clutch operatingl lever 42, or it may be manipulated 'from the discharge side ot the,

machine by indirect movement of the lever 42-through a lever 36 anda cross connection 34.

The material supply means disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, comprises a relatively large stationary hopper .9 located' adjacent to the periphery ofthe stationary top plate 2 and havinga lower discharge opening arranged directly above the movable openings 15 oi the member 3. rlhe hopper 9 is vertically adjustably supported upona bracket 21, ver tical adjustment of the hopper 9 being etfected by means of anA adjusting belt Q2. The lower portion of the hopper 9 is provided with a pair or" curved walls or ex tensions .33formed to guide-the material deliveredirom the' hopper inthe' general direction' otadvancement of the openings 15. Af downwardly extending ridge or projec-- tion 44 located adjacent to: theV discharge Opening et' tlieilioppeeQ serveses het; back rl-he drain for relatively large 'pieces of material.V .A horizontally pivoted flap 41 located between the extensionsv or walls 33 also serves to .check the flow of material from the hopper 9 in the direction of advancement of the openings 15. The lower extremity of the flap 41 is preferably curved as indicated in order to produce uniform distribution of the material, and the fiap 41 is preferably provided with an adjustable stop 43 for limiting the upward movement of the flap about its supporting piv ot.

The material supply means illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a relatively large chute 45 upon which certain materials may be deposited in bulk. The material thus deposited upon the chute 45 may be drawn with suitable scraping implements or by hand upon the stationary top plate 2, from whence the material may be delivered to the cans 19 through thesuccessive openings 15.

During normal operation of the semi-automatic can filling machinedisclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the various movable elements of the` structure are simultaneously set in Inotion by applying power to the drive pulley 31 and by throwing in the jaw clutch 32.'

The empt cans 19 aredelivered by gravity` through t e supply chuteI orV guide 14i and are deposited by gravity upon the rotating can feed drum 10. The helical -projection 35 of the feed drum 10 `automatically de livers the successive emptycans 19 to the successive 'advancing can hooks 8. As the cans 19 engage the hooks 8, they are automatically positioned with their upper open ends directly below and in vertical lalinement with the openings 15 ofthe revolving member 3.V The successive cans 19'are then urged along the runway 7 vand guides 23 until theyreach the hopper 9 `whereuponmaterial from the hopper is automatically;A deliveredy by'V gravity through the openings 15 and into they subjacentfcans 19 substantially. filling .the

cans. Other material from the hopper '9i is urged past the flap 41 by means of the advancing member 3, the fiap 41 and projection 44 automatically1 serving to prevent excessive delivery of materialfrom the hopper 9. The material thus delivered `from the hopper 9 past the flap 41 and projection 44 is conveyed between theextensions 3 3 where the cans 19 are further'automatica-lly filledV with material. -As the cans 19 and the member 3 are urged beyond the ends of the extensions 33, those cans which have not been properly automatically filled, are completely filled by one. or more operators stationed about the periphery of the machine, these operators ordinarily removing rexcess material from one` or more of the overfilled cans 19 and utilizing such material to properly supply the underfilled cans. Inasmuch as the cans 19 must travel considerable, distance beyond the ends ofthe extensions 33 before ,Y

they are delivered from the machine,-the operators `have suiicient time to insure proper filling of all of the cans 19 even when the machine is being driven at maximum speed. The filled cans 19 are automatically discharged from the machine by means of the delivering mechanism 37 in a well known manner. `It will be obvious that the succesin quality to a hand packed grade. The operators are exposed to but a relatively small amount of moving structure and are'protected against injury by the stationary top plate 2 and by the stationary guards 20 secured to the can guides 23. These guards 20 also serve to prevent splashing of thev liquid over the attendants and upon the floor. Excess liquid from the material handled, is automatically and effectivelyy discharged from the machine by the openings 17, the apron 16 and the drip catch pan 12,`thereby preventing undesirable accumulation of liquid and drippings rupon the' machine frame and fioor. v Due to the fact that prac-` tically the entire filling operation is automatic, the machine may be operated at relatively high speed to produce maximum ca.- pacity. The projection 44 and flap 41 also serve to reduce the manual labor and to enhance the capacity of filling by automatically controlling thel discharge of material from the supply hopper 9. i 1

Practically all ofthe elements ofy themachine may 'be quickly and conveniently removed for inspection and cleaning. The hopper 9 and the elements associated. therewith may be'freely vertically.removed at any time. lThis is also true of the modified supply chute 45. The stationary central'top plate 2 may be removed by merely releasing theclamping nut from the upper` end of the rod 4. The sectional canguides 225 and the guards 20 attached thereto mayv also be bearing 25, sleeve 5, dan hooks 8V and member 3. The canV hooks 8, 'member 3v and can guards 23 may be readily removed and other elements substituted in order toV accommo.

CII

date cans 190i different sizes; Thel adjusting screw 22 permits ready vertical adjustment of the suppl)T hopper 9,V thus enabling adjustment ot all of the more important elements with extreme rapidity.

The driving mechanism is also ot eX- tremely simple and compact construction and is controllable from various places around the machine. Manual operation 'ofthe machine may be ei'iected by merely throwing out the jaw clutch 32and manipulating the hand wheel 11 and the mechanism may be quickly started and stopped when desired.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details oi' construction and operation herein shown andv described, for various modi ications within the scope ofthe claims may occur to persons-skilled in the art'.

It is claimed and desiredfto secure by'Letters Patent i said plate and'having an inner downwardly directed apron, and a drip catch pan'below said openingsand said apron.

2. In a iilling machine', a movable meinber having a series of openings therein, aV

stationary hopper adapted to deliver material to said member in the direction of travel ofsaid openings, and a pivoted iiap adjacent to the delivery opening of said hopper, said flap being curved in the direction of movement of said member.

3. In a filling machine, a movable member having a series of openings therein, a stationary hopper adapted to deliver material to said member in the direction of travel of said openings, and a downwardly projecting wall associated with said hopper for retarding delivery of material from said'hopper in the direction of movement oi' saidY openings.

4. In a illing machine, a rotary member' having an annular series of openings therein, a stationary hopper adapted to deliver' material to said member in the direction ci travel of said openings, stationary guide walls for conducting 'material delivered from said hopper along the path of travel of said openings, and a curved iiow retarding flap pivotally associated with said hopper between said-walls.

5. In aV filling machine, a rotary member having an annular series of openings therein, a stationary hopper adapted to deliver material to said member in the direction ot wall spanning said-guide walls-'for retarding delivery of material-from said hopper,and`

aghcrizontallypivoted flow retarding iapf located :between said walls.'

6. In a filling machinehamovable member having a series ot openings therein, a stationary hopper adapted to delivermaterial toward said openings, means for effecting vertical adjustment ot said hopper, and a pivoted lap adjacent-to the delivery side ot the opening ot said hopper, said iiap being curved downwardly and Jforwardly in the direction ot' movement of said member.

7. In a filling machine, a stationary top plate, a vertically adjustable rod supporting said plate, a perforated member movable about said plate, and a sleeve journalled on said rodv ior supportingv said member.

8. In a lling machine, a stationary top plate, a central rod supporting said plate, a sleeve journalled on said ro-d, andan annular perforated member carried by said sleeve andmovable about the periphery ot said top plate.

9. In a .filling machine, a main frame, a rod supported by said frame, atop plate secured to said rod, said rod and said plate being immovable relatively to said frame,

a annular guide secured to said trame, a

sleeve journalled on said rod, and an annular member secured to said sleeve and movable adjacent to said guide and to the periphery o'f said plate.

10. In a lilling machine, a stationary circular top plate, a perforated member rotatable about the axis and beneath the peripheral edge of said plate, means Yfor effecting simultaneous vertical adjustment of said plate an-d said member, and means tor transporting cans with their upper open ends in direct communication with the perforations of said member.

11. In a iillingl machine, a stationary circular top plate, a perforated member rotatable about the axis and beneath the peripheral edge of said plate, means for effecting simultaneous vertical adjustment oi' said plate and said member, means for tansporting cans with their upper open ends in direct communication with the perforations of said member, and a vertically adjustable material supply hopper having a discharge opening directly above the pertorations ot said member.

' 12. In a filling machine, a stationary circular top plate, a single annular member extending beneath the peripheral edge ot said and in direct communication with the suc-` cessive openings of said series, means for simultaneously moving said member and said' canv positioning 'means about the central a-xisof said plate, and al vertically adjustable material supply hopper located directly above said openings: A

13. Iii al lilling machine, a rotary annular perforated member, means forV transporting cans in a circularpath beneath and with their upper ends in direct communication with the perorations of said member, a stationary circular top plate disposed within the can circle and above the inner edge of said member, and a single central fastening `for retaining said plate in position.

14. In a `filling machine, a rotary annular perforated member having an elevated peripheral rim, means for transporting cans with and below the perforations of said member, a stationary circular top plate located above the plane of the upper ends of the perforations of said member but below the top of said rim, and a stationary hopper having a discharge opening located between the periphery of said plate and the periph ery of Vsaid rim, said hopper having a discharge opening located below the top of said rim.

15. In a filling machine, means forming an annular series of can hooks rotatable about an axis, an annular member secured directly to and rotatable with said hooks, said member having openings formed to direct material into successive cans engaged by said hooks, and a circular top plate dis-` posed above said hooks and said member and having a peripheral edge extending beyond the inner edge of said member, said hooks and said member being simultaneously removable only upon removal of said plate.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is affixed hereto.

oswALn H. HANSEN. 

